Shelf and label holder



Aug-16, 1932. F. M. ZIMMERMAN SHELF Afm LABEL HOLDER Filed Marchv 26. 1950 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 FRANK M. ZIMMERMAN,

PATENT oF F AURORA, ILLINOIS FICEw SHELF Ann LABEL HOLDER Application med March 2a This invention relates to the shelving art and more especially to label holding means on the shelves, such for instance, as are adaptl ed for use in chain stores, warehouses and A the like. The present device is an improvement on the devices of my Patent No. 1,755,- 758, issued April 22, 1930, for label holders, and my Patent No. 1,600,382, granted to me on September 21, 1926, for label holders.

Themain objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of combined shelf and molding adapted for the effective holding and ready interchange of cards or labels vfor designating the various goods to be carried kon the shelf, as with respect to name, quality or price andthe like. A further object of the inventionV is to provide a card. molding either formed as a part of or attachable to the front edge of a shelf and adapted to hold the label in leverage tension, whereby the latter may be secured frictionally and yet be easily interchangeable.

This invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a system of shelving equipped with the iinproved molding and showing cards distributed therein, the shelves being of wood and the molding of sheet metal.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through one of the shelves of Fig. 1, as on the line 2-2 thereof.

Fig. 3 is taken in like manner, but shows a wood molding in place of the sheet metal moldings of Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken as in Figs. 2 and 3, but shows a modified construction compris` ing a unitary sheet metal shelf and molding formed integrally from a common piece of stock.

Fig. 5 is a diagram simply illustrating the three-point leverage warping of the label, as when in place.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the system of shelving 1 comprises a plurality of uprights 2 appropriately spaced, in combination with a vertical series of shelves 3 disposed horizontally thereon, each shelf having on its front edge a molding or a series of strips of molding 4 secured by screws 5.

1930. seran No. 439,064.

`Ffachmolding contains or is adapted to re'- c-eive anydesired assortment of cards or labels 6, the method and means for securing same removably and interchangeably being apparent, as indicated by the cross section views.

Referring to Figure 2, the molding 4 consists of a strip of sheet metal, the upper part of which as at 7 is substantially flat and the .A lower part of which is bent forwardly somewhat, as at 8. The forwardly inclined bottom part 9 terminates downwardly in a sharp U-bend at 10, and a narrow upwardly Vturned edge flange 11 is spaced from the main body part substantially uniformly to provide a pocket 12 adapted to snugly receive the lower edge of the card 6. The pocket 12 is contiguous with the face of the flat part 7 'Y Referring to Figure 3, the construction is mainly similar to Figure 2, except that instead of a sheetmetal molding a wooden `molding 15 is provided which includes a substantially flat upper part 16 and a gradiently thickened lower ledge part 17, the front edge of which is turned upwardly and somewhat vbackwardly to form a flange 18 appropriately spaced to provide a pocket 19, in which may be inserted the lower edge of card 6.

Referring to Figure 4, this view shows a Y more divergent modification of the invention. so Here the system of shelving comprises uprights 25 and 26 in combination with shelving 27. Each shelfis made of sheet metal and the front edge thereof is turned downwardly to provide substantially a card molding or holder 28, the upperpart of which is substantially flat, the lower portion being bent forwardly as at 29 and the eXtreme edge being turned upwardly to provide a flange 80, appropriately spaced'to form a pocket Sl'for receiving the lower edge of the card 6.

Comparing the several formsof the molding here shown, it is to be noted that in each case,the structure provides for holding the label in substantially three-point leverage tension,'forward forces being applied statically at the top and bottom edges, as at 35 and 36 and a rearward force being statically Aapplied medially as at 37.V As a result, the ,Y

upper partV of the card is held substantially flat, as at 38, while the lower part 39 is bent forwardly somewhat. This holding of the card in leverage tension provides sufficient friction contact on the back side, as at 35 and 36, and on the front side, as at 37, to prevent accidental displacement of the card.

` In order to more positively assure against accidental displacement of the card, the upper face part of the molding may be provided with a bead or rib disposed horizontally and projecting forwardly, as indicated `at 4l on Figure 4. The pockets l2, 19 and 3l maybe curved somewhat, but are preferably almost flat or may be substantially flat, for maximum security against accidental displace .ment The molding may to advantage project slightly above the face of the shelf, as at v43 on Fig. 3, to guard against goods accidentally slipping od the shelf.

Labels of any appropriate material and size may be used, preferably a good grade of substantially resilient Y cardboard, wide enough to extend from the bottom of the lower edge pocket nearly or about to the top of the molding, as in Figs. 4 and 2. These cards are readily inserted merely by a downward thrust, and are easily removed by catoliing the upper edge with the fingernail or otherwise and then pulling out with the iingers, as will be apparent. There is no occasion for the cards becoming creased, broken, .torn or soiled incident to insertion or removal.

Although but a few specific illustrations of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

lower edge part which is inclined forwardly and turned back onitself in label receptive form to form a pocket, said pocket being deep and wide and relatively thin.

V5. A. shelf formed with a downwardly turned front edge part, the lower margin of which is formed with a forwardly inclined pocket to hold a resilient ll'ab'el in static leverage tension against said downwardly turned part, and said pocket being deep and wide and relatively thin.

6. A combination shelf and card molding formed integrally from a strip of sheet metal and comprising a flat shelf part and a dependent molding part'on the front edge, the latter Vterminating downwardly with an npturned flange spaced from the body part to provide a pocket, the latter being inclined forwardly and downwardly to receive the lower edge of the card in leverage tension, aud said pocket being deep and wide and relatively thin.

7. A shelf molding comprising a substantially flat or flattish upright body face part and a bottom edge part projecting forwardly and having' a deep thin downward groove therein contiguous with said face and inclined forwardly relative thereto in combination with a normally flatresilient label body set in static leverage tension on said molding with its back mainly resting against the said upright face and with its lower edge part `sprinig forwardly and seated in said groove.

Signed at Chicago this 24th day of March 1930.

FRANK M. ZIMMERMAN.

l. A shelf card molding having a substan- ,y

tially iiat upright face and a lower edge front pocket formed contiguous with said face and inclined forwardly somewhat, said pocket being deep' and wide and relatively thin whereby said molding is adapted to hold a. card in static leverage tension.

2. A shelf card molding having a substantially fiat face and a lower edge front pocket formed contiguous with said face and inclined forwardly somewhat, the upper edge part being formed with ak forward bead disposed longitudinally of the molding, and said pocket being deep and wide and relatively thin.

3. A shelf card molding designed for substantially three point leverage contact of a normally flat resilient card ktherewith and comprising an edge pocket part to receive an edge of the cardv and a. body part inclined thereto to support the back of the card, said plpcket being deep and wide and relatively t in.-

4. A one piece sheet metal label holder comprising a substantially flatfbody part anda 

